WEDNESDAY September 22, 2004
OPTIMIST THE
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 10 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Beyond the classroom:
Students serve on Saturday:
Cats upset Texans:
Students have enjoyed Dr. Charles Trevathan’s classes for 17 years. Page 5
Students had several choices and opportunities to participate in the first Service Saturday of the semester this weekend around Abilene. Page 3
The football team defeated the No. 7 team in the nation, Tarleton State. Page 8
Flag display in Chapel creates stir International Students Association says it does not support petition By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
More than 90 students and faculty signed a petition last week regarding the size of the American flag at Opening Day Ceremonies at Chapel The petition asks that the American flag be the same size as the flags from other nations.
Teresa Pecinovsky, senior Christian ministry major from Cresco, Iowa, wrote the letter and sent it to the president’s office and the Chapel office Saturday. Dr. Money responded to the petition, said Jim Holmans, executive assistant to the president. However, the petition has already caused controversy on campus. Susanna Drehsel, senior political science major from Heidelberg, Germany and vice president of the International
Students Association, said that several international students have already heard negative comments toward them regarding the petition. American students have said comments like, ‘They chose to come here; if they don’t like it they can leave,’ Drehsel said. However, an ISA member did not write the petition, nor was it written in response to any complaints from ISA members. “ISA as an organization does
not support the petition,” Drehsel said. “I want to make sure that the ACU community knows that the majority of international students is not offended (by the size of the American flag).” Pecinovsky announced the petition in ISA Chapel on Thursday, but only four of 133 students signed it, Drehsel said, adding that at least one of those students is American. “A majority of those who signed it are American,” Pecinovsky said.
“I am by no means speaking for the International Students Association — I can’t really because I’m not one.” Pecinovsky said she’s gotten the same type of reactions from American and international students: some support the petition and some oppose it. “I would like to start opening dialogue,” she said. “Let’s consider the message we’re sending — let’s get it on the table.” See FLAG Page 4
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Optimist file photo
Dr. Paul Piersall leads the Pledge of Allegiance during Opening Day Ceremonies in front of the large American flag in Moody Coliseum.
Follies highlights ‘ACU difference’ ‘The AC: Nothing’s Cooler’ chosen for this year’s Follies theme By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR
EYAKEM GULILAT/Staff Photographer
Students play the board game “Battle of the Sexes” during Saturday night’s Tri-University Bash in the Bean Sprout. Students from HardinSimmons and McMurry universities were invited to campus to give students the opportunity to meet others.
Event brings local colleges together ACU, Hardin-Simmons, McMurry students meet in Bean Sprout By MALLORY SHERWOOD STAFF WRITER
The first Tri-University Bash of the semester drew about 4050 students from ACU, HardinSimmons and McMurry universities to the Bean Sprout on Friday evening to mingle, play board and card games and to participate in bowling, pool and Xbox tournaments. The students arrived and congregated around the bowling lanes to try to win prizes and mingled in the Bean Sprout’s dining room to play cards, play on the piano and partake in the
snack foods and drinks available, said Noel Cothren, student cultural adviser and sophomore art major from Albuquerque, N.M. Students laughed, joked and chattered throughout the evening while taking advantage of the free pool, Xbox and bowling paid for by the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment, which sponsored the event. Sixteen students from McMurry and HSU attended, marking it a success for Cothren. “Everyone that came seemed to have a good time, and they got to meet some students from the other universities, too,” she said. She also said the office plans to advertise to the other cam-
puses in Abilene better next semester instead of only passing out fliers. Besides the alluring free aspect of the evening, students said they also attended to be able to meet students from HSU and McMurry and some of the international students on campus. “I like free food and games to begin with, and being with some of the international students gives the evening a different dynamic,” said Jeremy Webb, junior youth and family ministry major from Austin. Chandra Hayes, a sophomore at HSU, said she has always wanted to meet people who are not from Texas or the United States. “Tonight I got to meet a
By RUBEN J. GONZALEZ STUDENT REPORTER
Brandon Scott Thomas couldn’t believe the words that came out of Dr. Royce Money’s mouth a few weeks ago when the ACU president unexpectedly phoned him. After a few minutes reminiscing about each other’s family, Money delivered the news: ‘I am pleased to announce you have been selected as this year’s Young Alumnus of the Year,’ Thomas remembered.
Thomas will be recognized publicly during Homecoming Chapel on Oct. 23. “My first thought was, I hope someone’s not playing a joke on me,” said Thomas, a 1992 graduate of ACU. “I was speechless. I thought to myself, are you serious?” A 33-member Alumni Advisory Board, in recognition of professional achievement and distinguished service to ACU, selected Thomas Aug. 21 for the award that salutes alumni under 40 years old. Thomas was nominated by 1972 graduate Linda Giddens. As a student, Thomas See AWARD Page 4
See BASH Page 2
E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu
Barnard calls for changes
‘Young alumnus’ honored by alumni ACU graduate now leads the Zoe Group in Nashville, Tenn.
whole group of students from Madagascar,” she said. “It is cool that ACU has so many international students.” Her roommate, Jessica Rowan, also a sophomore from HSU, had never been to ACU and said she was excited to see the campus. Both women said they were anxious to see if they could begin something similar to ACU’s multicultural enrichment programs at their own campus. The cultural student adviser committee, which organized the event, was designed this year to plan events for the ACU campus that promote academic, spiritual and social development between all of the students, as
‘The AC: Nothing’s Cooler’ is this year’s theme for Freshman Follies, playing off of FOX’s hit show The OC. “I chose The AC as a theme because The OC is a popular TV show, and how it can contrast what The OC says,” said Kendall Massey, director of Student Productions. “The OC is a show that is about worldly things, and we are saying that things are different here.” The basic theme behind The AC is “Salt. Light. Different.” According to the Web site, “The AC is about what makes each of us Salt and Light, what makes ACU and its freshmen different, and why no place in the world is like ACU.” Massey said he purposely made the theme broad to let students sing about the topics that interest them. “I like to give room for people to be creative,” Massey said. “Everyone’s been really happy because they can do different things.” Freshman Follies is a production in which freshmen have song and dance numbers with their different floors in their residence halls based on a certain theme with talent show style acts in between. A large chorus of men and women performs during the show, and this year’s large chorus is performing the song School of Rock from the movie of the same name.
Performances of the show are 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $8 and can be bought through Friday in the Campus Center ticket windows or online at www.freshmanfollies.com. Katie Scott, freshman interior design major from Whitehouse, is performing in Gardner Hall’s second floor act and said she is having fun getting to know the women on her hall. She said her hall’s theme is Massey about what they think is cool at ACU and around Abilene, and their practices include late nights of dancing. “It’s something so we don’t get bored at the beginning of school, since everybody else is pledging,” Scott said. Jessica Chisholm, freshman undeclared major from Memphis, Tenn., said Nelson Hall second floor’s theme is “Too Cool for School,” where they sing about learning about college life, swiping cards in Chapel and coming in late for curfew. “My brother said it was a good way to meet people and I should do it,” Chisholm said. She said she likes spending time with the women on the hall and that they aren’t practicing too much. “It’s fun, but I’ll be glad when it’s over,” Chisholm said.
Dean of Campus Life asks for improvement of student behavior By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR
COURTESY PHOTO
Young Alumnus of the Year Brandon Scott Thomas sings in Moody Coliseum last February during Lectureship.
Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, spoke to students in Chapel on Tuesday about several recurring behavioral issues that have concerned him. He said a number of instances over the past several weeks spurred him to appeal to the student body to look at their behavior. Barnard began by requesting students arrive at Chapel on time and be quiet when entering. “I’m sorry, but it’s just not appropriate to come in late and talk while we’re singing
praises to God,” Barnard told the crowd. “It’s just wrong. I want to appeal to you and let you know that you are louder than you think.” He mentioned two instances in Chapel recently when students talked during the lessons of Dr. Mark Love, assistant professor of ministry, and Mark Lewis, director of Barnard Student Life, saying he was embarrassed for the speakers as well as certain sections in Chapel. “The decent and courteous thing to do is to come in quietly,” Barnard said. He said it is inappropriate
for students to leave Chapel early, saying that it is a lesson learned in kindergarten. He also mentioned that an administrative card is slid in the card readers when Chapel is officially over, so every student swiping before then is counted absent. Barnard rebuked students for “sliding and gliding,” sliding in to Chapel and then leaving, only coming back to slide out again. “That’s a lie, it’s deceptive, it’s cheating, and it’s an issue of academic integrity,” Barnard said. The recent deaths of two students at Colorado University from alcohol poisoning prompted Barnard to mention the seriousness of See DEAN Page 4
CAMPUS
DAY
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
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Calendar&Events Wednesday
Ranking for Social Clubs, 8:30 a.m.5 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Voter Registration, 11:30 a.m.4p.m., Campus Center tables. Service Action Leadership Team Chapel, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Living Room. Freshman Follies ticket sales, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
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Thursday
Town Hall Meeting, 8-10 a.m., Hilton Room.
Freshman Follies performance, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.
Deep Dish Philosophy, 7-10 p.m., Living Room.
Culture Show ticket sales, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Student African American Brotherhood meeting, 5-6 p.m., Living Room..
Freshman Follies ticket sales, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Social club bids go out to residence halls, 4:30-6 p.m., residence halls.
Bid Night
Pick up social club bids, off-campus students, 5-6 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Freshman Follies ticket sales, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
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Friday
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
The Key City Kiwanis Club needs volunteers to help with their annual fish fry from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. or from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. For more information contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. The YMCA needs volunteer coaches for flag football and youth soccer between Oct. 2 and Nov. 6. Some time is required one evening a week after 5 p.m. and approximately half the day on Saturdays, either morning or afternoon. Contact the Volunteer and Service-
Learning Center for more information. Local radio station 95Q/96TX Country is looking for volunteers to operate stations around Abilene where young adults could register to vote in the upcoming election. For more information, contact the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center. The Optimist Club needs help with the annual Big Country Balloon Fest Friday through Sunday for two hour blocks of time at Redbud Park. Volunteers will operate ticket booths and carnival areas.
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Monday
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Culture Show ticket sales, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center tables. Sundaes on Mondays, 7 -10 p.m., Living Room.
Saturday
Culture Show ticket sales, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
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Tuesday
Culture Show ticket sales, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center tables. SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Sunday
Culture Show ticket sales, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Homecoming Steering Committee meeting, 9:30-10:45 p.m., Hilton Room.
Volunteer Opportunities Stop by the Volunteer and ServiceLearning for more information. Volunteers are needed to help build the Abilene Community Playground from 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, please contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. The Alzheimer’s Association is seeking 10-20 volunteers to help with the Alzheimer’s Association Golf Tournament at Maxwell Golf Course. The tournament will be from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. Lunch will be provided. For more
information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. The Salvation Army needs volunteers to help sort clothing and other items, staining shelves, and pricing. For more information contact Dawn Pulscher at at 6771408. Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver hot noon meals to the homes of homebound elderly and adults with disabilities from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
21 50
Police Log (edited for space) Sept. 13, 2004 3:40 p.m. Theft of golf cart from WFF, Case #04-136. 4:35 p.m. Vehicle accident at E.N. 20th Street and Campus Court. 6:44 p.m. Incomplete 911 at Zellner Hall, misdial. 7:50 p.m. Attempt to locate of vehicle that was speeding through campus. 10:05 p.m. Report of students throwing water balloons, unable to locate. Sept.14, 2004 7:20 a.m. Medical emergency at Powell Fitness Center, subject having seizures. 7:05 p.m. Alarm at The Campus Store, all okay. Sept. 15, 2004 1:39 a.m. Suspicious person at University Park Apartments, contacted subject. 8:50 a.m. Fire alarm at Sikes Hall. Smoke on 3rd floor, building evacuated, located burning food in resident’s microwave. 6:25 p.m. Skateboarders at Biblical Studies Building parking lot; were gone upon arrival. 7:25 p.m. Traffic stop at Teague Boulevard, driving wrong way on one-way.
Sept. 16, 2004 12:48 a.m. Report of suspicious subject at Sikes Hall. Contacted subject, all OK. 11:00 p.m. Vehicle accident at Ambler Avenue and Judge Ely Boulevard. 11:40 p.m. Fire alarm at Smith Hall, all OK. 9:40 p.m. Report in reference to suspicious activity, Case #04-139. Sept. 17, 2004 7:10 a.m. Unlocked vehicle at 1200 Washington Blvd. 10:30 p.m. Traffic stop at E.N. 15th Street & Washington Boulevard. Sept. 18, 2004 1:00 a.m. Suspicious vehicle at Abilene Christian High School. 9:18 pm. Vehicle accident at Ambler Avenue and Judge Ely Boulevard. Sept. 19, 2004 12:21 a.m. Checked with desk worker at Smith Hall. 2:04 a.m. Checked with desk worker at Sikes Hall. 2:12 a.m. Checked with desk worker at Gardner Hall.
Bash: More events planned for semester Continued from Page 1 well as to provide multicultural enrichment opportunities throughout the school year. The cultural student advisers are planning several more events throughout the semester based on cultural themes and possibly more Tri-University Bashes as well. “It’s really sad that we are so
close to Hardin-Simmons; they are just down the road, and we never hang out together,” said Kathleen Carmichael, sophomore psychology major from Austin. “It is a great opportunity to promote community between the Christian colleges of Abilene.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Announcements Shinnery Reviews are for sale. If you missed out last year, you still have a chance to purchase the 2004 student literary magazine for $4. See Nuria Hall in Chambers Hall Room 308. Interested in taking Portuguese or Russian? Help get these classes started for Fall 2005 by e-mailing Phyllis Chill at pnc02a@acu.edu or Erin Ford at efc02a@acu.edu. Only 12 students are needed to commit to two semesters per language so they can be opened up in the fall. Classes will count as electives or foreign language requirements. The university ministry at Southern Hills Church of Christ invites students to attend its second annual "Bid Night Bash and Ice-Cream Crash" party starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. Free pizza, movie and games. In addi-
tion, "Free Indeed" will be in concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, at Southern Hills. "Free Indeed" will lead worship on Sunday which is "Celebration Sunday." A free lunch follows. Wednesday is social club ranking day. If you are registered to pledge, do not forget to rank the clubs Wednesday in the ticket windows from 8:30a.m.-5 p.m. Those who do not rank will not receive a bid. Come support Essence of Ebony`s Spring Break Campaign fund-raiser at Mr. Gatti`s at 5661 Buffalo Gap Road on Thursday from 6-9 p.m. The price is $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children. Turn in your receipts at the end of the night and Essence of Ebony will receive 10 percent of the proceeds. For more information, contact La Toya O`Neil or
Camile Jackson by e-mail. Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be meeting Thursday at 9:28 p.m. in the foyer of the Teague Special Events Building. This week will focus on fun, fellowship, worship, and the Word. Everyone is welcome to attend. The Chapel prayer room is now available on Mondays and Tuesdays in Gibson Room 230. Come and intercede for Chapel, the ACU campus, the Abilene community and our world. The ACU Roller Hockey Team is looking for experienced players. Last year, they represented ACU at the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Tournament in Anaheim. They are hoping to continue a winning tradition. Contact crb00c@acu.edu for more info.
About This Page The Optimist maintains this calendar for the ACU community to keep track of local social, academic and service opportunities. Groups may send announcements directly to optimist@jmc.acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor, ACU Box 27892, Abilene, TX 79699.
To ensure that an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Page 3
Dr. VanRheenen becomes proud grandfather of triplets Provost experiences being a grandfather to three infant boys By APRIL WARD PAGE 2 EDITOR
After flying to Seattle on Sept. 8 to be with his family, Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost, got to experience the joys of being a grandfather three times over. VanRheenen’s son, Nathan VanRheenen and his wife,
Emma, became the parents of three triplet boys born Sept. 8 at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. For Dwayne VanRheenen, it was an important family event he didn’t want to miss. “I received a telephone call from my wife, Joan, who was with Nathan and our daughterin-law at about 5:15 a.m. as I was walking out to the door to Hendrick Health Club, where I work out each morning,” he said. While it was just after 3 a.m. in Seattle, VanRheenen said
that Nathan and Emma had just left for the hospital. VanRheenen said he immediately booked a flight out of Abilene Regional Airport and landed in Seattle by noon. An emergency C-section was performed after only 32 weeks of pregnancy, but the babies were born healthy and will remain in the hospital for six to eight weeks. Their names are Quincy Powell, MacArthur Dale and Xavier Sydney VanRheenen. “Many prayers were offered on their behalf,” VanRheenen
said. “Mom and Dad are with them every day, feeding and holding them. The babies have an around-the-clock care and an outstanding medical staff.” While the parents are excited about the new additions to the family, VanRheenen said taking care of the triplets and their older child, Nathan VanRheenen Jr., will require a lot of effort. “Once the boys go home, the parents will have their work cut out for them,” he said. Still, VanRheenen said that
he and his wife are doing their best to help out. “Joan has been spending 75 percent of her time in Seattle since Emma was confined to bed, and Nathan Jr. needed his grandmother,” VanRheenen said. “After the babies come home, Joan will be helping Emma and Nathan with the around-the-clock care for the three infants.” VanRheenen said he intends to see the family soon as well. “I hope to return in a few weeks, and I talk to the family everyday,” he said.
While these are not VanRheenen’s first grandchildren, he said he enjoys the chance to be a grandfather. “Having grandchildren is wonderful,” he said. “We get to spoil them and the parents have to deal with the implications. Seriously, it is a great experience all over again, the birth of these gifts from God and to see them grow and develop.” E-mail Ward at: alw02b@acu.edu
Students use weekends to serve Service Saturdays offer various ways for students to help others By LUKE HARRIS STUDENT REPORTER
Students participated in the first Service Saturday of the year this weekend, helping renovate a house, sorting food at the Abilene food bank and helping at the Abilene Adult Daycare. Erin Martin, junior youth and family ministry major from Houston, is committee chair for Service Saturday and this is her fourth semester in Service Action Leadership Team, but only her second semester as the
committee chair. “We try to do things that interest different people so that when the weekend arrives … people they can sign up for that weekend,” Martin said. She said that even though they do different things every weekend, it is still good to help. “It’s a really good way to get involved and a good way to serve God, and in the end that is what we are called to do,” Martin said. Martin helped clean a house in the middle of a renovation while some students sorted food at the Abilene food bank and others helped with landscaping and other various things at the Abilene Adult Daycare.
Andrea Kelley, sophomore speech pathology major from Amarillo, said that they try to mix up the projects for one day, for example those involving kids and the construction projects, so that the people that are interested in one but not the other can choose where they would like to serve. The next Service Saturday is Oct. 16, but Kelley said she was unsure of where it will take place. She said the sites are picked two weeks in advance, and that they try not to repeat the same sites. E-mail Harris at: optimist@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Laressa McCormac (left), senior social work major from Glen Rose, Tara Studer, senior biology major from Seymour, and Kasey Pearson, sophomore social work major from Daytona Beach, Fla., sort through clothes that will be delivered to Ukraine by Healing Hands International.
Weekend Campaigns travel to San Antonio Students continue spreading service, aid to those in need By TABITHA VAIL STAFF WRITER
Weekend Campaigns took 25 students to San Antonio Saturday to paint portable buildings at the Christian Hope Resource Center, the benevolent ministry of the Oak Hills Church. The students also put on an ice cream social at the SAMM shelter, an emergency
shelter for families. Weekend Campaigns is an outreach organization lead by Chris Fall, senior business major from San Antonio, and Kristi Lippurt, senior psychology major from Cincinnati. During the monthly trips to Texas cities and surrounding states, Weekend Campaigns blends volunteering and fellowship, and Fall said it is a way for students to “have a feel for what community service is.” Not only did the campaigners serve banana splits and sing praise songs at the SAMM shel-
ter, they also had the opportunity to sing “Happy Birthday” to 8-year-old Ednita, whose family is staying at the SAMM shelter temporarily. She said she thought having all the college students there to celebrate was awesome. Rachel Jones, senior English and international studies major from Atlanta, said that Weekend Campaigns is an “extension for my love for Jesus Christ” because “Christianity is an action word!” Weekend Campaign Chapel offers acoustic praise and worship led by Jud
Howell, senior financial management major from Amarillo, and a message by Drew Friar, senior biblical text major from San Antonio, every Thursday. Howell said he finds “no better way to use his gift” for music than by leading worship with his acoustic guitar and said that Weekend Campaigns “broadens your awareness of what communities need, even if you are from there.” E-mail Vail at: txv02b@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Page 4
Teach: ‘I’m just getting started’
Just one more second
Continued from Page 5
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
This participant in the West Texas Fair and Rodeo last Saturday had 8 seconds to attempt to ride the horse before being bucked off. The 35th annual West Texas Fair PRCA Rodeo ran from Sept. 14 through Saturday and featured barrel racing, steer wrestling and bull riding, among other events.
Dean: Barnard talks of concerns Continued from Page 1 underage drinking, and he said within the past two weeks, a student came within 20 minutes of dying of alcohol poisoning. He said the student’s friends left the scene to avoid receiving another citation for minor in possession, and this is one of the most selfish things he was heard of in a long time. “I’m unwilling to wait until one of you dies to use your life as an example,” Barnard said. “It has got to stop.” Barnard said he was talking in a guarded context, but in every case where alcohol was involved, laws were broken and lives were endangered. He said residents in neighborhoods have also complained to the university about being woken up in the middle of the night from students being too loud. Another issue addressed was the use of foul language
“I’m unwilling to wait until one of you dies to use your life as an example.” Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life
on campus, which consists of not only swearing but of derogatory language addressed toward students of a different gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic background or those “who are struggling against homosexuality.” He later said this was brought on by several of his U-100 students and other freshmen commenting about things they have heard around campus. “Am I off base?” Barnard asked the crowd. “Do I need to let go of a burden because it’s a false burden?” Barnard closed Chapel with a prayer that students’ hearts will be changed so that their lives will change. He later said that the entire Chapel series this semester
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
focuses on changing the heart, and that is why he had Proverbs 4:23-27 read. He said he has received positive feedback from administrators, faculty and students alike. He said he does not want to come across as arrogant or as an enforcer, but he hopes his talk will remind people of their actions and begin conversations on campus. If we make mistakes, he said, we can apologize, grow from the mistakes and move on. “The point is we just need an encouraging environment that really spurs us on to do well,” Barnard said.
E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu
“Mrs. Roosevelt was a very active sponsor and enthusiastically interacted with students,” Trevathan said. “That’s stayed in the back of my mind all my life, the things I watched her do and what she said to me. I thought: ‘That is a great way to wind up. That’s really terrific; if I can pull that off some day, I want to do that.’” Trevathan said Roosevelt thought herself fortunate to have so many college students in her life. “I knew then that she was right, and I know it even more now,” he said. Trevathan said he would not have imagined at the time that he would one day teach sociology, but it is the subject he now loves. “If I had the choice of teaching any subject at ACU, my top three choices would be three of the four courses I’m teaching,” he said. “How do you explain that? You can’t explain that kind of blessing.” Adams said Trevathan is a good teacher not only because of his passion for teaching but also because he truly learned the material. “I feel like one of the best things I did for ACU was help him get in the position to
teach,” she said. Bill Culp, chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, said Trevathan brings a lot of preparation time and life experience to class. “That’s the combination that makes him outstanding as a teacher,” he said. “He’s one of the most creative faculty members I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.” Students say they love him, even though he seems to be the teacher students stereotypically avoid because he continues to give harder tests, expects quality work and grew up in another generation. Because of his work in the classroom, Trevathan earned the Trustees Award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2001, which now hangs on the wall across from his desk. “He is very inspirational and has a lot of wisdom to offer,” said Rachel Henderson, junior children’s ministry major from Tyler. “He went beyond [the text] to help us be better people, to live fully.” Trevathan tells stories from his own life, gesturing to dramatize each point, pacing the room and making eye contact with students. His unique charisma draws people to listen and trust what he has to say. “He has lots of life stories
that make it interesting,” said Heather Hobson, junior social work major from Kaufman. “And it’s a night class; it’s hard to like those.” Last March, three years after earning the Teacher of the Year award, Trevathan had a heart attack and had four stints put in his heart. He didn’t allow even that to keep him away from his students, though. “I had a heart attack on Sunday, and I was back in class in a week,” he said. “It just seemed like the thing to do at the time. It probably wasn’t smart, but I don’t regret it.” Adams said Trevathan has told her that if he died in the classroom, he’d die happy. “He gives his whole life to it,” she said. Trevathan said he wants to work at least seven more years so he can say he has had two 25-year careers in his lifetime. “It’s great to be an old guy with a second career it was unlikely I could achieve,” he said. “Occasionally, someone will ask if at my age and working this hard I’m not experiencing burnout, and I say: ‘Are you kidding? I’m a novice; I’m just getting started.’”
E-mail Gower at: cng02a@acu.edu
Flag: Display could offend some Continued from Page 1 She said that the image of the giant American flag unfolding above the flags from other nations could convey the idea that America is more important than the other nations represented on campus. “Whether or not it is the intended message of America being more important than other nations, it’s being com-
municated,” Pecinovsky said. “The question we have to ask is: ‘Is this welcoming people or overwhelming them with our culture?’” Drehsel said most international students enjoy Opening Chapel. “We’ve always enjoyed it very much,” she said. “We enjoy celebrating our heritage and the American heritage. If
we were offended, we wouldn’t participate.” Pecinovsky said she would like to have a forum about the issue. “I think a forum is a great idea,” she said. “I think there’s enough interest that it’s possible.” E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Award: Thomas model for others Continued from Page 1 served as junior and senior class president, was a Sing Song host and was voted Mr. ACU, among other achievements. Thomas is the Music Minister at the Otter Creek Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn., and has also served on the ACU Alumni Board and is an active donor. Jama Cadle, Alumni Events coordinator, said Thomas is among 86,000 former students who make up the ACU Alumni
Association, and she said Thomas is a clear model of ACU alumni making a difference in the world. “There’s always a few that stick out,” Cadle said. “He is a leader in his field, and he loves the Lord, and that shows in everything he does. He’s just a great example of what a Christian professional can do.” Now, a few weeks after being recognized as the 2004 Young Alumnus of the Year, Thomas said he has come to accept the fact that his name
will garner the award for a year. But he is quick to point out that he didn’t earn it alone. “It means a lot to me because I think so highly of the institution that it represents,” Thomas said. “It is very humbling to receive this award because I’m not really worth anything on my own. Without God, I would not be able to do the things I have done.” E-mail Gonzalez at: optimist@acu.edu
September 22, 2004
FOCUSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 5
Dr. Charles Trevathan worked through a self-invented mid-life crisis
For the Love of Teaching STORY BY CHRISTY GOWER
P
EYAKEM GULILAT/Staff Photographer
In his Cultural Diversity class Monday night, Dr. Charles Trevathan taught more than 70 students about the Jewish experience in America and how that experience has changed over the years. ictures and certificates fill Dr. “I began Charles Trevathan’s office walls, but he points with pride past them to the frame boasting his letter of appointment to the faculty in the Department of Sociology and Social Work. Seventeen years ago, almost a decade before he received that letter, Trevathan decided to have a mid-life crisis. As his law partner neared retirement and he began considering his options, Trevathan left his 26-year law practice in Louisville, Ky., and moved west of the Mississippi to try to become a college teacher. “I thought that was a radical enough change to constitute a mid-life crisis of my own making,” said Trevathan, now an instructor of sociology and social work. “I wanted to teach college, but I had a J.D., and I didn’t want to teach law courses.” He was determined to be on a college campus for his second career, so he moved his wife of 44 years, Phyllis, and two of his three daughters to Abilene. “The move was not an easy sell with the family except for one daughter who was marrying and moving to Texas,” Trevathan said. “But Phyllis came around pretty quickly and has done more than anybody to make it work.” He said he knows his venture was risky. “When I said my final farewells to the senior judge in Louisville, he was still baffled by my decision,” he said. “When he found out I was not joining the faculty, that I was not an alumnus, that I had no tenure nor any hope for it, that my contract could be terminated on 30-days notice with or without reason and that my job duties were vague, he told me: ‘All I know for sure is they won’t be asking you to negotiate any of their contracts. That’s ridiculous.’” He describes his trek through the years at ACU as a camel that wants to get inside the circus tent; he poked his nose under the tent and eventually found himself at the circus. revathan came to ACU the fall of ’87 when Dr. William Teague, then president of the university, hired him as associate general counsel. Teague came to know Trevathan the year before when he challenged the accusers of the university and two of its biology teachers in a controversy concerning the teaching of evolution. “It’s this simple,” he said. “Were it not for Bill Teague, I could not and would not have come to ACU.” Though the position of counsel was not his ultimate goal and Teague made no promises for a faculty position, Trevathan knew he needed something to just get on campus, and he credits Dr. W. Gaston Welborn Jr., ACU vice president and general counsel, for his patience during his quest to teach. “Very soon after I moved to Abilene, I began a shameless campaign to get on the faculty, hoping to teach some-
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“Those people were just great,” Trevathan said. “There are a lot of reasons why I’m very proud of the way we ran our lap in Campus Life. It was one of the best experiences of my life, but time was running out, and Rae Adams was my last realistic hope to be a teacher. … My philosophy is that once you’ve run your lap in one event, say goodbye and get after the next.” So he did. s Adams neared retirement, she agreed to help Trevathan meet the requirements to take over three of her courses: Introduction to Sociology, Cultural Diversity and Ethics Social Issues. “Charles just has a sparkle about him,” she said. “He wanted so badly to teach. He wanted to teach badly enough to … fulfill the requirements.” To fill a portion of those requirements, Trevathan took four graduate courses at ACU and audited Adams’ classes. His life experiences and coursework for his law degree fulfilled the other requirements to authorize him to teach the courses he teaches now. He said he attended two of Adams’ courses and wrote more than 80 pages of analytical papers for Social Theory while teaching two sections of Introduction to Sociology with more than 70 students in each class. “That semester about killed me,” Trevathan said. “It became clear to me that Rae was doing more than a personal favor for me. She was making sure that some old lawyer was not going to wander around ignorant in her beloved courses.” After Adams retired, Trevathan fulfilled his dream and began teaching Introduction to Sociology, Cultural Diversity and Ethics and Social Issues; he added Criminal Justice along the way. He says he is profoundly indebted to his colleagues, who made him feel at home in their department. “Not once have they treated me like an interloper and to this day support me and encourage me as a teacher,” he said. ooking back, Trevathan had many sources of inspiration to become a teacher, one of whom was his brother, who taught college history. “I like to teach, and college students looked like the best of all worlds,” he said. The first thought of teaching, however, came much earlier during his work with the college subsidiary of the American Association for the United Nations while a student at Lipscomb University. He served as national vice president for programming of the Collegiate Council for the United Nations in his junior year and as national president his senior year. The experience allowed him to observe former first lady and CCUN sponsor Eleanor Roosevelt, who had an office in the AAUN headquarters in New York.
a shameless campaign to get on the faculty ... Of course, with a J.D., that’s a complete pipedream.” Dr. Charles Trevathan, instructor of sociology and social work
thing other than law-related courses, courses like poetry or history,” Trevathan said. “Of course, with a J.D., that’s a complete pipedream, but I worked on many department chairs and teachers to see what I could come up with.” With the exception of an occasional guest lecture, his search yielded no results. Until the fall of 1990. Dr. Rae Adams, professor emerita of sociology and social work, asked if he would be interested in teaching her freshman sociology class while she was in Oxford the next semester. “Of course I jumped at the opportunity,” he said. “Without question, Rae Adams was the principal savior of my mid-life crisis.” Adams said Trevathan frequently contacted her during that semester to see what he was doing wrong. “He was so determined to be a good teacher,” she said. n his quest to become a teacher, he also thanks Ruth Stevens, wife of Dr. John C. Stevens, chancellor emeritus and former president of the university. The first semester Trevathan taught, he asked Stevens to attend his classes, critique his lectures and tests and grade papers like she did for her husband when he taught history at ACU. “I figured that anybody who could keep John on the straight and narrow was my ticket to success,” he said. “What a teacher she was! I can still see her withering glances of disapproval and hear her words of encouragement.” Stevens said she enjoyed sitting in on his class. “He’s one of the best [teachers] I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot,” she said. “He just changed lives. Every kid in there was changed. He helped all of them.” She said she tried to keep him from making the course and tests too difficult. “I told him, ‘They’re … not senior or graduate students,’” she said. Trevathan said he needed her critiques. “I told the students that Ruth was their lawyer to protect them from me,” he said. “I think they needed her because I was really pumped for that class.” Trevathan continued teaching the course intermittently, even after becoming the vice president for Campus Life in November 1991. His work in that role through May 1997 saw the opening of University Park Apartments and the introduction and enforcement of hazing laws for social clubs. The most significant change, he said, was combining the discipline processes for men and women. He said he had a wonderful staff while there.
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VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6 The issue: A petition has been circulated regarding the giant American flag at Opening Day Ceremonies.
Our view: The flag is not offensive, but it has opened room for discussion.
The solution: Students need to communicate about issues that offend them, and the administration needs to evaluate the purpose of the large flag in the Chapel setting.
September 22, 2004
Flag petition raises needed discussion A new controversy recently surfaced on campus about the giant American flag displayed at Opening Day Ceremonies. A student drafted and circulated a petition last week asking that the administration rethink the unfurling of Old Glory above the flags of other nations. Although the Editorial Board does not think the flag is offensive, we think it is an issue that needs to be addressed, and we respect this student for taking the initiative to start the petition. Often, students have com-
school plaints about Opening Chapel coordinators may want to reflect this made a conprocedures and traditions on on the reason for the flag and the purpose it fulfills. scious decision to live in this campus. Stucountry, and dents rarely act with that comes the nation’s on these, other than to com- heard by the administration. It is understandable that patriotic displays. plain to fellow students. The board understands that In drafting the petition, some might find the flag superTeresa Pecinovsky, senior fluous. Although the adminis- the International Students AssoChristian ministry major from tration does not intend to ciation does not support the peCresco, Iowa, has shown how offend any students, interna- tition, which could easily cause students can make a difference tional or American, students a rift between American and Inon campus through mature and obviously could consider it ternational students. The petition has sparked offensive. Opening Chapel coordemocratic means. Pecinovsky could have sim- dinators may want to reflect on numerous conversations on ply complained about the flag. the reason for the flag and the campus. Instead of becoming an issue that pits international stuInstead, she spoke to students purpose it serves. However, ACU is in the Uni- dents against American stuand faculty and went through the correct steps to get her voice ted States; students who attend dents, the board hopes that
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
Assault weapons should be banned The day before the ban on even make sense. He said semiautomatic assault when someone wants to buy weapons expired a Miami- two cowboy pistols, he has to Dade police officer was shot fill out an extra report for the several times second gun and go through when a driver more paper work. But only a she pulled background check is needed if over opened someone comes into the shop fire with an and wants to buy an AR-15 AK-47. Luck- and magazines with thousands ily, she sur- of bullets. “Why should I have to douvived and is ble report the cowboy pistol recovering. A Violence and not the AR?” Riggins said. I am the Riggins said the ban of Policy Center Enemy study found assault weapons didn’t change Sarah Carlson that of the 211 much, and configurations police officers made on the weapons that killed in the line of duty from were “cosmetic” changes left 1998 through 2001, 41 were the actual purpose and danger killed with an assault weapon. of the weapon unchanged. Only the military needs Post-law guns could take preassault weapons similar to AK- law magazines, Riggins said, 47s, Uzi’s or M-16s, now avail- and many pre-law weapons able to the public. One does were protected by the grandfanot need a bayonet, a flash ther provision and remained in suppressor or a multi-round use. A grandfather clause magazine — accessories that exempts one already engaging can help someone easily mow in an activity from new rules or down a crowd of civilians or legislation forbidding or regulating that activity. policemen — for Loopholes have target practice. To let this ban allowed gun manThe assault weapons ban expire was dan- ufacturers to continue to produce should have been renewed or new gerous and fool- many of the weaplegislation should ish on the parts ons specified in the ban by simply have been written and passed in its of Congress and changing minor and accesplace. the president. features sories of the gun, The law, signed or even its name. If by President Clinton in 1994, banned 19 specific the law was really as ineffective semiautomatic weapons and as its critics claim, then it ammunition clips of 10 rounds should have been improved to prevent these loopholes. or more. In February 2000, when A study released this year by the Brady Center to Prevent Bush was running for presiGun Violence found a 66 per- dent, the National Rifle cent drop in use of assault Association had a few words to weapons in crimes after the say about their relationship ban was first enacted in 1994, with him if he was elected. “If we win, we’ll have a and also concluded that had the law not been passed, about president where we work out 66,000 more assault weapons of their office,” said Kayne would have been traced to Robinson, first vice president for the NRA. crimes since 1994. A posting on the NRA’s Web A recent national poll conducted by University of Penn- site on Sept. 13 said, “Today's sylvania's National Annenberg demise of the Clinton gun ban Election Survey found that 68 should serve as a stark percent of Americans wanted reminder that the 2004 electo extend the ban, including tions will determine the next 57 percent of those with a gun chapter that is written on the Second Amendment.” in their household. President Bush, in his To let this ban expire was dangerous and foolish on the acceptance speech at the parts of Congress and the pres- Republican National Conident. President Bush cam- vention in New York Sept. 2, paigned in 2000 on the issue of said, “One thing I have learned the ban and continued to sup- about the presidency is that whatever shortcomings you port its renewal. “The president supports the have, people are going to current law, and he supports notice them, and whatever reauthorization of the current strengths you have, you're law,” said White House press going to need them.” He fell short. The president secretary Scott McClellan in chose to protect his political April 2003. However, Bush put no pres- associations with the NRA in sure on Congress to renew the an election year instead of protecting the American people ban. Too many problems exist in from these lethal and unnecesthe gun franchise. Greg sary weapons. Riggins, gun manager of The Pawn Shop at 357 Walnut, said the regulations on the “who” E-mail Carlson at: and “how” of gun buying don’t optimist@acu.edu or skc02a@acu.edu
Abilene in national spotlight ... again And to think 10 days ago I wished the story about President Bush’s National Guard service would just go away. Enter Kinko’s of Abilene, the small town of Baird and former National Guardsman Bill Burkett. For those of you out of the Ask the loop, on Sept. Question 16 reports beJonathan gan surfacing Smith that documents regarding President Bush’s questioned service in the National Guard were faxed to CBS news from the Kinko’s Copies in Abilene. TV anchor Dan Rather used these documents as evidence that President Bush received preferential treatment while serving in the National Guard more than 30 years ago. Now, with the authenticity of the documents in question, and Dan Rather’s integrity on the line, the source of the documents has become a hot
The only questions left are when will it happen and how strange will it be. topic. When someone recognized the Kinko’s of Abilene stamp at the top of the faxed documents, news outlets began to suspect one Bill Burkett, retired National Guardsman from Baird. Baird, Texas, and the Kinko’s Copies in Abilene. What were the odds? Actually, they were quite good judging by Abilene’s knack for finding the strangest, most obscure ways into the national spotlight. Last year alone, a 90-yearold man from Abilene robbed a bank—his first robbery since he was in his 80s. A Good Samaritan made all the national talk shows after running into a burning house to save a child. Because of all the press, he was recognized and arrested days later for violating his parole, sending the national media swarming again. In 2002, a baby was
abducted during broad daylight from the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot, garnering a nationwide Amber Alert and more national coverage. In 2001, ACU was one of the first places investigated for a possible anthrax contamination after the administration received a nearincomprehensible letter. This happened before anthrax scares became almost routine reports on the nightly newscasts. I’m convinced that living in Abilene will one day make me more attractive to a newspaper and help me get a job. Because the next time some guy faxes politically sensitive documents from a Kinko’s here or a 90-year-old Abilenian robs a bank, newspapers will salivate to have a reporter who knows the area and can give them any edge on the coverage.
And something will happen; it always does. The only questions left are when will it happen and how strange will it be. I’m betting on something to do with the election this year. Maybe the presidential race will somehow hinge on what happens in Taylor County. Or better yet, Republican or Democratic control of the U.S. House of Representatives will come down to what happens in our 19th District race between incumbents Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, and Rep. Randy Neugebauer, RLubbock. The stranger it is, the better and the more likely it is to actually happen. I’ve frequently heard it said that ACU would be an even better place if it weren’t in Abilene. I wouldn’t have it any other place. After all, the future of my career depends on it. Respond to Smith at: optimist@acu.edu or jvs02a@acu.edu
In Your Words Do you think the giant American flag at Opening Day Ceremonies is offensive? “Maybe we should get flags that big for every country—then everyone would be happy.”
“I don’t—it’s been a big controversy. I’m an international student, and I feel welcome in this place. It’s the home country; that’s why it’s bigger.”
“Why should it be? I don’t think of it since I am in America. As a foreigner, I can say this is my host country—I respect your flag.”
“I don’t think it’s necessary, but I don’t think it’s offensive in any way shape or form. It is rather massive though.”
Nathan Gray
Diana Gutierrez
Alex Mityunin
senior biochemistry major from Memphis, Tenn.
senior management and marketing major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Rebecca Watts
senior political science major from Abilene
sophomore interdisciplinary major from Plano
Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist Editorial Board and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist, its Editorial Board or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors
or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or less. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@jmc.acu.edu
OPTIMIST THE
communication is opened between students of different cultures, a phenomenon that cannot happen often enough. The playing of the “Star Spangled Banner” while the flag unfolds, while intensely patriotic, can be overwhelming. A question that should be addressed is: Is Chapel really the best place for that type of patriotic display? Pecinovsky and her petition have begun a dialogue on campus; don’t let it go to waste. Whether you agree or disagree with the petition, take some time to think about the issue and what it means to you.
The Optimist Editorial Board
Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Abilene Christian University
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SPORTS JUMPS
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Football: Team faces ENMU Sat.
Volleyball: Team to host tourney Continued from Page 8
streak to Tarleton, ENMU (1-3) faces a similar situation with the Wildcats. Gaines and company look to build off the momentum that the victory in Stephenville brought and keep the Greyhounds at bay as they try to complete an upset. “Just because a team is unranked doesn’t mean they can’t beat us,” Gaines said. “We’re far from perfect . . . they’ve got us at their place and they’ll be looking to get us.”
by Commerce. “It was good to go out and play the way we should and beat a team in three games instead of four or five,” Delabano said. On Saturday, the Wildcats continued their winning ways shellacking SE Oklahoma St. 30-20, 3017, 30-8. Slate led the Wildcats with 12 service aces and five kills. “Amanda just served them off the court in the last game,” Delabano said. “I don’t know how many she served in a row but it was a lot.” Delabano did her part posting a game-high 14 kills. The usual suspects, Bernhardt and Martin, also helped ACU to victory. Bernhardt posted 15 digs and 13 kills and Martin added a game-high 35 assists. “It was just a fun weekend because we all played so well,” Snoddy said. ACU will host the LSC Crossover Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Wildcats will face Central Oklahoma on Friday and play against Southeastern Oklahoma and Cameron on Saturday.
E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu
E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
Continued from Page 8 he had crossed mid-field after a series of east and west moves he had just the kicker to beat. Manning also had an interception in the second half giving him his second in as many contests, and he led the team with 11 tackles. His biggest tackle came on an impressive goalline stand by the Wildcats in the 3rd quarter. The Texans had first-and-goal from the Wildcat 2-yard line, but the Wildcat defense was up for the task. Tarleton’s Derrick Ross carried the ball to the 1-yard line while Darryl Freeman and Mark Malunowe made the stop, and on 2nd down Manning stuffed a Carl Steward run for a twoyard loss. Freshman Cody Stutts dove in the end zone to tip the ball and prevent a Tarleton touchdown intended for Chris Winn, and senior Dawon Gentry denied Ross once again on a sweep play on 4th down. Overall, the Wildcats had three sacks, seven tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Gentry finished with eight tackles along with defensive back Doug Barnett who had eight tackles as well, and an acrobatic interception in the 3rd quarter. Farrell had seven tackles, a sack, and broke up a pass at the defensive line to go with his forced fumble and recovery. Coach Gaines got his first career win against Tarleton State and a bucket full of Gatorade on his back courtesy of Manning, Gentry and Matt Allen in the fourth quarter. “Offensively we played well in the first half; we didn’t finish as well, but the defense kept the fire out all night,” Gaines said. Eastern New Mexico is next on the agenda for the Wildcats Saturday in Portales, N.M. It marks the first LSC South Division game for ACU in 2004, and the Greyhounds will be looking to defeat ACU for the first time since 1998. After ACU snapped its seven-game losing
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Defensive backs coach Nathan Headrick celebrates after Dawon Gentry sealed a goal-line stand in the 3rd quarter. Headrick is in his second season at ACU.
Box Score Abilene Christian... Tarleton State......
10 0
21 0
0 0
Page 7
0 - 31 14 - 14
Scoring Summary: 1st Quarter: ACU - Eben Nelson 41 yd field goal ACU - Rashon Myles 42 yd run (Nelson kick) 2nd Quarter: ACU - Brett Unger 9 yd pass from Greg Wiggins (Nelson kick) ACU - Dillon Cobb 3 yd pass from Wiggins (Nelson kick) ACU - Danieal Manning 73 yd punt return (Nelson kick) 4th Quarter: TARLETON - Jason Mathias 22 yd pass from Adam Johnson (Paul Williams kick) TARLETON - Derrick Ross 5 yd run (Williams kick) ACU TSU ACU FIRST DOWNS................ 15 19 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 40-152 48-189 Penalties-Yards 5-38 PASSING YDS (NET) 127 141 Possession Time 24:00 Pass Att-Comp-Int 24-12-0 25-12-2 Third-Down Conversions 6 of 15 TOTAL OFF. PLAYS-YDS 64-279 73-330 Fourth-Down Conversions 0 of 0 Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0 Red-Zone Conversions 2-2 Punt Returns-Yards 2-84 2-0 Sacks By: Number-Yards 3-26 Kickoff Returns-Yards 2-25 5-86 Int. Returns-Yards 2-1 0-0 Punts (Number-Avg) 7-42.0 5-46.4 RUSHING: ACU-Rashon Myles 14-102; Mark Gaines 17-32; Greg Wiggins 7-22; TEAM 2-minus 4. TSU-Derrick Ross 32-190; Carl Steward 11-14; Adam Johnson 5-minus 15. PASSING: ACU-Greg Wiggins 12-24-0-127. TSU-Adam Johnson 12-25-2-141. RECEIVING: ACU-Dillon Cobb 6-65; Jerale Badon 3-40; Brett Unger 1-9; Warren Rogers 1-8; Craig Howard 1-5. TSU-Jason Mathias 3-44; Dustin Tabor 3-24; Rob Spells 2-36; Sims Kemp 2-28; Chris Daniels 1-5; Kyle Masters 1-4.
TSU 1-1 2-26 36:00 2 of 14 2 of 5 1-4 1-18
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Freshman outside hitter Liz Snoddy digs the ball against Southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday. The Wildcats have won fourstraight contests heading into Tuesday’s match against St. Edwards.
SPORTSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 8
LSC South Standings Football Team Div. 1. A&M-Kingsville 0-0 2. ACU 0-0 2. Midwestern State 0-0 4. E. New Mexico 0-0 5. A&M-Commerce 0-0 5. W. Texas A&M 0-0 7. Angelo State 0-0
Tot. 2-0 2-1 2-1 1-3 1-2 1-2 0-4
UPSET!
Cats knock off No. 7 Tarleton Two goal-line stands, 3 TSU turnovers aid ACU victory By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS EDITOR
Volleyball Team 1. Tarleton State 2. E. New Mexico 3. Angelo State 4. ACU 5. West Texas A&M 6. A&M-Kingsville
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Tot. 12-2 8-2 11-3 10-5 8-6 5-7
Scores Friday Volleyball ACU 3, A&M-Commerce 0
Saturday Football ACU 31, Tarleton State 14 Volleyball ACU 3, S.E. Oklahoma 0
Briefs Former coach’s family dies in wreck A former ACU coach’s three grandchildren, daughter-in-law, and the daughterin-law’s mother died Monday in a wreck on Highway 75 near Sherman, about 60 miles north of Dallas. Mike Martin coached men’s basketball at ACU 1980-1988 and 1999-2002. His son Michael was married to Lisa Wood Martin, and they had three sons: Chance, Brock and Reid. The wreck occurred Monday at about 4:30 p.m. when a tractor-trailer crossed the median and hit the family’s SUV and a pickup, according to the Dallas Morning-News. Five people in the pickup were also killed, and two other passengers in the pickup and the driver of the tractor-trailer were taken to the hospital with injuries. Funeral arrangements for the family are being made through Turrentine-Jackson Morrow Funeral Home in Dallas. The funeral for Lisa and the children will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at High Pointe Church of Christ in McKinney, and funeral for Lisa’s mother, Betsy Wood, will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m. -Lori Bredemeyer
This week in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Friday, September 24 VB: Central Oklahoma, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 25 VB: SE Oklahoma State, 1 p.m. VB: Cameron, 5 p.m. FB: at Eastern New Mexico, 7 p.m. Monday, September 27 G: at NSU Men's Fall Classic, 9 a.m. Tuesday, September 28 G: at NSU Men's Fall Classic, 9 a.m.
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior defensive back Doug Barnett takes a pass away from Tarleton receiver Jason Mathias. The interception was one of three turnovers committed by the No. 7-ranked Texans.
By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
The Wildcat volleyball team extended its winning streak to four games over the weekend defeating Texas A&MCommerce on Friday night and Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon in Moody Coliseum. By dropping the bottom two teams in the Lone Star Conference, ACU improved its record to 10-5 this season and remains undefeated at home. “It’s a lot easier to play at home in front of your own fans,” said Liz Snoddy, sophomore outside hitter. “It’s hard
Throw out their No. 7 national ranking, throw out the fact that they were leading the Lone Star Conference in team defense and throw out the seven game winning streak Tarleton State had over ACU. The Wildcats were the better football team Saturday as they rolled over Cobb the Texans 31-14 in Stephenville. All 31 points came in the first half for the Wildcats, and the defense held Tarleton to just 115 firsthalf yards for a 31-0 lead. Dillon Cobb caught his third touchdown pass from Greg Wiggins in as many games, and Myles with Brett Unger’s first career touchdown reception, ACU matched last year’s season total for touchdown receptions in just the third game with seven. Cobb and Wiggins came into the program in 2000 along with head coach Gary Gaines. Both players have stuck with the program and in his final year, Cobb said he feels extremely comfortable and confident with the on-field general in Wiggins. “I like to think that when [Greg] drops back to pass, he knows where I’m at on the field ... and I appreciate him for sticking with the program after being behind Colby Freeman
Football for three years,” Cobb said. Wiggins was 12 of 24 for 127 yards along with his two touchdown passes, and he did not throw an interception for the second straight week. In fact, ACU didn’t turnover the ball at all for the second consecutive game. back Backup running Rashon Myles was the early star for Wildcats. His 42-yard touchdown run, with 4:33 left in the first quarter, came on a third-and-short situation that was intended for short yardage. However, Myles had other plans as he broke through the line and past the Texan safeties for the score. Wiggins’ connection with Unger wouldn’t have taken place if Myles hadn’t laid a block on a blitzing linebacker, which allowed Wiggins the time to find the senior fullback in the flat for a 17-0 lead. “Rashon’s a big, strong body ... he’s as good a blocker as he is a runner,” Gaines said. ACU’s two pre-season AllAmericans (Clayton Farrell and Danieal Manning) were at it again in Stephenville. Farrell forced a fumble and recovered it on the Texan 21-yard line, giving the Wildcats a very short field. Wiggins led the team on its third touchdown drive, capped off by a spectacular catch by Cobb in the end zone. Wiggins, under heavy pressure, floated the pass to the front of the end zone where Cobb, aware of the blitz, came back to make a shoe-string catch. If that wasn’t enough, less than two minutes later after a three-and-out for Tarleton, Manning returned a punt for a touchdown for the second straight week; this time for 73 yards. Manning spun to avoid the first tackler, and by the time See FOOTBALL Page 7
Teams have success vs. D-I competition Tennis teams look to regional tournament in Springfield, Mo. By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
ACU tennis coach Hutton Jones has been waiting to see how his teams would respond against tough competition. On Friday and Saturday he got that chance, and he liked the results. In their final tune-up before the regional tournament, the men’s team fared well in the rain-shortened New Mexico State Aggie Invitational, and the women’s team beat three Division I squads at the Texas-El Paso Invitational. Because of NCAA rules, team scores cannot be officially kept in fall tournaments, but the ACU women played six singles matches and three doubles matches against four Division I teams in its tournament. “Combining our results from
singles and doubles, we beat the University of Texas-El Paso, we beat New Mexico State and we beat Northern Arizona,” Jones said. The Wildcats did not capture enough individual matches against Texas Tech to garner a “win,” but Jones said they played well. Four of the singles matches went to three sets and all the doubles matches were close. “A three set match to me means it could go either way,” Jones said. He said he was pleased with the performance of his players in the tournament. “Lana Pavlin has come back really strong,” Jones said. “Her and Holly Lindloff had a great win against New Mexico State’s No. 1 doubles team.” Rachel Taylor won all three singles matches she played and won two of four in doubles. Taylor said the quality of competition they faced will be good
Wildcats remain undefeated at home ACU romps Commerce, S.E. Oklahoma with 3-0 victories
September 22, 2004
for the team. “We all had tough matches, and that is going to get us ready,” Taylor said. The men’s team played a flighted tournament, which featured no team competition at all. Artin Tafazoli was once again the Wildcat’s standout as he advanced to the quarterfinals. After beating New Mexico’s No. 4 player, Tafazoli lost a close match to New Mexico State’s top player. Tafazoli won his next match and was set to play for fifth place before rain cancelled the final day of competition. Tafazoli teamed up with Kevin Beedy to beat New Mexico State’s No. 1 doubles team in the first round, then lost to fellow Wildcats Casper Steenkamp and Jason Ray. ACU’s doubles combination of George
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Jason Ray returns a shot in last Saturday’s Wal-Mart Open. Carstens and Evan Puglia also won a couple of matches. “I really think all three of our doubles teams could win the whole thing and get to nationals,” Jones said. “I’m getting better every time out,” Tafazoli said. “I’m pretty much ready for regionals.” Taylor said she is ready as well and expects a good showing from the Wildcats. “We’re hoping to get a couple of ACU players out there to
nationals; that’s always the goal,” Taylor said. That is Jones’ goal as well; he just wants his team to recognize that the road there will be another tough one, and he wants the players to be prepared for that. “We don’t want easy matches,” Jones said. “We’re not looking for it to be easy.” E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu
Women’s cross country places 10th Mwamba leads team with fourth-place finish at meet
Volleyball to go away and play in someone else’s gym, but at home we want to win for the fans.” ACU dominated in front of the home crowd Friday night, destroying Texas A&MCommerce 30-17, 30-18, 3012. Junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt led the Wildcats with 12 kills, and junior setter Lindsey Martin added 36 assists. Snoddy and senior libero Kellen Morrow chipped in 11 digs each. Junior middle blocker Ashlee Motola, junior middle blocker Amanda Slate and sophomore outside hitter Callie Delabano contributed eight kills each. The Wildcats controlled every aspect of the game, including hitting .265 as a
Tennis
By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Senior libero Kellen Morrow returns a serve Saturday against Southeastern Oklahoma. team compared to the dismal .084 hitting percentage posted See VOLLEYBALL Page 7
Junior transfer Adeh Mwamba placed fourth Saturday to lead the ACU women’s cross country team to a 10th-place finish at the Missouri Southern State University Stampede in Joplin, Mo. Mwamba was the No. 1 Wildcat finisher, covering the 5,000-meter course in 16:55.57. The next ACU finisher was sophomore Olha Kryv’yak, who placed 12th with a time of 17:54.00, followed by junior transfer Trina Cox in 23rd with a time of 18:25.10. The young Wildcat women’s team finished 10th in the team standings with 248 points, but was hurt by a disappointing
Cross Country 164th-place-finish by an injured No. 4 runner Abbie Waters. The University of Oklahoma women took first, followed by the University of Arkansas. Head cross country coach Jon Murray said Mwamba started the race running with the eventual winner, but fell off the pace to finish fourth. The former South Plains College star, who claimed two NJCAA individual cross country titles in Levelland, is one of two or three who could be contenders at the Division II national championships in November. “Adeh went out really fast, but still ran a really good race,” Murray said. “We’re doing great through our top three runners.” Despite the success of the top three Wildcat runners, Murray said the team will need to overcome a significant time gap
between the Nos. 3 and 4 runners. But help could be on the way, said Murray. “I think there’s a couple things that will change,” Murray said. “One of those will be Abbie Waters. That could be a big swing.” Junior Mollye Stanford finished 112th in the race with a time of 20:35.72, followed by Denise Morgan in 120th. Despite some injuries and disappointing times, Murray is optimistic about the rest of the season. “Hopefully, we can get Abbi back and keep moving our other runners up, and then I think it can be a really good season,” he said. The men’s and women’s teams will be back in action Saturday at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Invitational in Stillwater, Okla. E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu